We Create Access. We Expand Opportunity. We Change Trajectories.
The Pay It Forward Project is a 501(c)(3) recognized nonprofit dedicated to exposing students to life-changing experiences that broaden their world and prepare them for a successful future. Through meaningful programs like the Born to Belong HBCU Bus Tour, we connect young people to colleges, culture, and community so they can see what’s possible and become who they were meant to be.
Our Work:
• College Exposure Programs
• Community Partnerships
• Educational Experiences
• Leadership & Character Development
Join us in shaping the next generation.
For partnerships or sponsorships, please reach out directly.
OUR STORY
Born From Experience. Built to Pay It Forward.
The Pay It Forward Project was founded by Dr. Ross D. Jordan, an educator, community leader, and proud graduate of DeSoto High School, Morehouse College, Teachers College at Columbia University, and The Ohio State University. His life has been shaped by opportunity, but more importantly, by people and experiences that expanded his world.
In 2019, Dr. Jordan was part of the historic Morehouse College graduating class whose student loan debt was paid off by philanthropist Robert F. Smith. During that moment, Smith charged the class with a challenge: “Pay it forward.”
Those three words became a lifelong mission.
The Pay It Forward Project is Dr. Jordan’s response to that call.
He created this nonprofit to ensure young people receive the same exposure, access, and life-changing opportunities that shaped his journey. Through programs like the Born to Belong HBCU Bus Tour, he is opening doors for students who may have never imagined themselves stepping foot on a college campus, especially an HBCU that feels like home.
Our story is rooted in gratitude, service, and legacy.
We were blessed by an opportunity that erased barriers.
Now, we exist to pass that blessing on to the next generation.
INSPIRING STORIES OF KINDNESS THROUGH EDUCATION, EXPOSURE, AND EXCITEMENT
